“One thing remained constant: I needed to be the trainer.”
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My name is Jennilee Fraser, and I have accrued years of experience as an amateur educator. I have imparted knowledge on a variety of subjects such as art, fitness, yoga, and theatre to individuals of all ages, both children and adults. Teaching has been my lifelong ambition since the age of 5, and I have been consciously and subconsciously working towards this goal for the last 17 years.
After facing several difficulties, I left university at the age of 25 and entered the workforce. Despite working in gas stations, grocery stores, and casinos, I continually found myself in the role of a trainer. I would become the subject matter expert and was always the first to train new employees. I had assumed that this trajectory would lead me to entrepreneurship, so I started my own business, teaching seniors about acting and directing, which is my particular passion. However, the venture was unsuccessful, and I shifted my focus to becoming a fitness and yoga instructor.
During this time, I was introduced to a company called Paint Nite, which offered an independent contractor position instructing amateurs through painting. I quickly rose to become the most sought-after artist in Kamloops, managing most of the events and venue correspondence myself. For four years, I devoted myself to teaching fitness and painting full-time, which brought me tremendous fulfillment.
However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my industries took a significant hit, forcing me to consider alternative forms of employment. Through a period of self-reflection, I recognized that teaching was the driving force behind every career experience I had. I found great joy in guiding people through learning using methods of connection, gentle encouragement, patience, and variety. I developed valuable qualities as an educator, such as the ability to help students recognize their unique learning styles, encourage self-compassion in their learning process, and discover the fun in acquiring new knowledge and skills.
Therefore, I made the decision to pursue formal education once again, almost 14 years later, to become a professional educator.